Dogs can suffer injuries to knee ligaments and may require major knee surgery as a result. There are different types of knee surgeries, but most include a similar path to recovery, and considerable time and effort from owners are necessary to help the dog recover successfully during the healing process.
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Initial Recovery
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Immediately after surgery, the dog will be given pain and anti-inflammatory medications. The pain medications will be given for about a week. The veterinarian will prescribe the exact medicine and the dosage. The dog may also initially be given a patch that will give medicine. If the dog shows side effects such as nausea, loss of appetite, melena (dark, tarry stool) or vomiting, he should not be given any more medication, and the vet should be notified. The dog will be fitted with a large plastic collar to prevent him from licking the stitches. The dog will be restricted to a cage or small space and will not be allowed to run. He will only be allowed out on a leash for eliminations, and a sling may be used to help the dog avoid falling on the knee. The owner will need to put ice packs on the dog's knee for 10 to 15 minutes two or three times each day; the leg operated on should be put through stretching and range-of-motion exercises for 15 to 20 minutes each day.
Two Weeks
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If stitches or staples were used, they will be removed at this point. The incision should be completely healed. Water treadmill exercise can be used if available. Ice packs are needed only if the knee or ankle swells up. The dog will still be restricted to a small area and not allowed off the leash outside. The dog can slowly put weight on the knee. Range of motion and stretching exercises should continue. The fur on the shaved leg will probably be grown in about half as thick as normal.
Three to Four Weeks
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An increase in light activity is allowed, but the dog cannot be allowed to run or jump. The dog will still need to be confined to a small space and should not be allowed off the leash outside. Range of motion and stretching exercises should continue, and there should be a noticeable increase in range.
Six to Eight Weeks
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This is when the first major recheck by the veterinarian occurs. X-rays of the knee will be taken with the dog under general anesthesia. Depending on how well healed the knee is, the vet will decide how much increased activity is allowed. The range of motion exercises and stretching should continue as the vet sees fit. At this point, it will be difficult to tell the leg was shaved, but it will probably be coarser hair than the rest of the dog's fur.
Twelve to Fourteen Weeks
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This is when the final recheck usually takes place. X-rays will again be taken under general anesthesia. The knee should be healed or mostly healed at this point. Depending on how the recheck goes, the vet will decide if or when the movement restrictions on the dog will be lifted so the dog will be allowed outside off of a leash. At this point, the dog can be taken on walks. The walks should be short at first and then slowly extended as the dog begins to build up the muscles in the leg and begins to build up endurance.
Twenty to Twenty-two Weeks
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This is the point that most dogs return to completely normal activities.
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